Beijing (VNA) – Vietnam-China friendship is a valuable asset of the twocountries’ Parties, States and people and it needs to be preserved andpromoted, said a joint statement between Vietnam and China.

The joint statement was issued on the occasion of the State visit to China byState President Tran Dai Quang, his spouse, and a high-ranking Vietnamesedelegation to China at the invitation of General Secretary of the CommunistParty of China and President Xi Jinping.

During the visit from May 11-15, President Tran Dai Quang attended thehigh-level forum on the Belt and Road Initiative, in Beijing.

He held talks with President Xi Jinping, and met with Premier Li Keqiang; ZhangDejiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congressof China; Yu Zhengsheng, Chairman of the Chinese People’s PoliticalConsultative Conference; and Liu Yunshan, member of the Politburo StandingCommittee and Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee’sSecretariat.

The two sides kept each other updated on the respective Party and nationalsituations and discussed bilateral relations and regional and internationalissues of mutual concern. They reached an important joint awareness ofunceasingly deepening the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperativepartnership, the joint statement said.

Apart from Beijing, President Tran Dai Quang paid a visit to Fujian province, acoastal locality in south-eastern China.

In the context of rapidly changing and complicated regional and internationalsituations, the two countries should be patient, respecting each other,maintaining strategic dialogue, reinforcing political trust, constantlyratcheting up win-win cooperation, managing and handling satisfactorilyoutstanding disagreements and arising matters, and stepping up thecomprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in a healthy and stable manner,so to bring substantial benefits to their people, and make positivecontributions to promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

The two sides agreed to maintain the tradition of holding close meetingsbetween Party and State leaders in a flexible manner, promptly exchangingviewpoints on big and important issues in bilateral ties and regional andinternational situations, stepping up the orientating and steering work to thedevelopment of bilateral ties, and promoting the role of the Steering Committeeon Vietnam-China cooperation in coordinating and speeding up the implementationof the joint perception reached by the countries’ leaders.

The sides also agreed to boost exchanges and cooperation in diplomacy, defence,security and law enforcement.

They reached a consensus on increasing coordination and applying efficientmeasures to mutually support cooperation in economics-trade, productioncapacity, investment, infrastructure, finance and monetary issues in a stable,healthy and sustainable fashion.

They were unanimous in accelerating affiliation in agriculture, water resources,environment, science-technology, and transport.

The countries will be actively pushing for the operation of a hotline dealingwith unexpected cases pertaining to sea fishing activities as well as relatedissues satisfactorily in conformity with their friendship, the joint statementsaid.

The two sides agreed to expand cooperation in culture, sports, tourism, andeducation, healthcare, and boost instructions and support for the friendshipexchange and win-win cooperation between localities, especially border ones.

They consented to continuously promote the role of the joint committee on landborder, soundly execute legal documents on land border, intensify themanagement over security and order in border areas, press ahead with openingand upgrading pairs of border gates, apply favorable customs clearanceprocedures, discuss regulations on the opening and operation of roads in borderareas, prevent and combat legal infringements, like smuggling and illegalimmigration, and maintain social security and order in border areas.

They discussed deeply, sincerely and frankly issues at sea, agreeing to abideby the important perception reached by Party and State leaders and the“Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of issues at sea betweenVietnam and China”, make the best use of the Governmental negotiating mechanismon boundaries and seek basic and long-lasting solution acceptable to bothsides.

They also agreed to soundly carry out the follow-up work of the completed jointsurvey at the area off the Tonkin Gulf, push the negotiation on the delineationof waters off the Tonkin Gulf, and actively step up cooperation for mutualdevelopment in the waters.

The two sides agreed to continue implementing comprehensively and efficientlythe Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon builda Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) on the basis of consultation and unity,well manage disputes at sea, take no action that could complicate and expanddisputes, and maintain peace and stability in the East Sea.

The Vietnamese side affirmed that it persistently respects the one-Chinapolicy, support the peaceful development of cross-strait relations and China’sunification cause, and resolutely oppose to any “Taiwan independence”activities in any form. Vietnam does not develop any official relations withTaiwan. That stance was welcomed by the Chinese side.

The two sides agreed to boost coordination and collaboration in multilateralframeworks, like the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC) forum, ASEAN-China, ASEAN-China, Japan and the Republic of Korea(ASEAN 3), and the East Asia Summit (EAS).

They agreed to work together in accelerating regional connectivity andintegration, support ASEAN’s unity, solidarity and central role in the evolvingregional architecture, and together contribute to preserving peace, stability,and prosperity in the region and the world at large.

The Chinese side vowed to support Vietnam to successfully organize the APECEconomic Leaders’ Meeting 2017 and expressed willingness to activelyparticipate in the event.

The Vietnamese side wished that the high-level forum on the Belt and Road willsucceed and bring mutual benefits for all countries.

The sides agreed that the visit was successful, helping reinforce mutual trust,and traditional friendship, deepen the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategiccooperative partnership, and contribute constructively to promoting peace,stability, cooperation and sustainable development in the region and theworld.-VNA